Who Was Sudbury's Most Influential Person in 2013?

The year 2013 will go down in the history books as the year Sudbury changed.

After a second vote to increase its Board of Selectmen from three to five members was, which was forced by State Legislature when residents complained of a "flash mob" during the September 2012 Special Town Meeting that first approved of the expansion, the town agreed change was needed.

And if you ask around about who was key in making this change, you'll hear of one man's name: Michael Troiano.

To get his point across, he mostly shied away from "Lavendergate," the night of May 8, 2012, when numerous town leaders celebrated the end of Annual Town Meeting past the allowed liquor license hours, forcing the chief of police to issue a liquor license warning to Lavender Asian Cuisine and Bar.

Instead, Troiano explained the effort to increase the town's Board of Selectmen was "more representatives equals more representation." And his argument worked.

He also developed a special Facebook page where residents could freely voice concerns, something that had lacked at Selectmen meetings.

Today, the Board's agendas include a Public Comment portion for residents to speak of issues not planned for that night.

Troiano explained how an increased Board would result in more transparency and more accountability, something that clearly lacked last year when then Chair Larry O'Brien recused himself from all conversations regarding Lavender.

"Too much power for too few for too long drives bad behavior," Troiano said.

Although he did not run for one of the two new seats, which are now occupied by Len Simon and Chuck Woodard, he did leave open the possibility of serving the town in the future.

"I do want to serve the town," he said earlier this year. "I hope to at some point in the future, but now is not a good time for me and my family."